Salotto

Review by eFreeware

Salotto is a free Android app from Salotto LLC that connects people who play pool, so they can find games, join them and host their own. It sits in the Sports category and has been on Google Play since November 2019. The idea behind it is simple: rather than hoping someone turns up at your local table, you look for players and games through the app.

What appeals to me most is the scope. The app covers players nearby and around the world, supports competitive play with rankings at area, country and world level, and lets members host games, events and even lessons. It is also built to handle FargoRated matches, which gives it a purpose beyond casual meetups.

The developer's pitch is that skill level should not be a barrier, and the app is presented as suitable for everyone from beginners to professionals. That range matters, because a pool community only works if there are enough players at different levels to match with. For someone who wants more table time and does not mind arranging it through an app, this is the main reason to take a look.

Built for players who want more table time

The clearest fit here is a player who already enjoys pool but struggles to find opponents. Salotto takes that uncertainty out of the process by letting you see who is available and where games are being played. You can join a game if it matches your interest, or put one together yourself.

It also suits people who want structure rather than a casual knockabout. Competitive games feed into rankings, and the app keeps real-time statistics so members can see where they stand against other players. If you care about measuring progress against a wider pool of opponents, that ranking system is the hook.

Hosting is the other side of it. Members can run games and events at a business or at home, and the developer compares the earning potential to how a ride-share app lets drivers make money. That makes Salotto interesting for venue owners, league organizers or anyone with access to a table who wants to bring players together. Lessons are part of the picture too, so an instructor could use it to arrange sessions.

Because the app is aimed at everyone from beginner to professional, there is no minimum standard to meet. A newcomer can look for a game at their own level, while a stronger player can chase ranking points and the invitational tournament qualification that comes with a high position.

Finding games, opponents and venues

The core of Salotto is matchmaking for pool. You can search out players nearby or further afield, see what games are on offer and join one that fits. The developer's framing is that members can connect and play anywhere at any time, which is the promise the whole app rests on.

Rankings run alongside matchmaking. Higher-ranked players can qualify for invitational tournaments, which gives the ladder a purpose beyond bragging rights.

For anyone involved in rated play, the support for FargoRated matches is a notable inclusion. It means the app can be used to arrange games that count toward that system, not just informal meetups. Between that and the ranking tiers, Salotto is trying to serve both the casual end of the game and players who take their record seriously.

Hosting games, events and lessons

Hosting is where Salotto does something different from a simple player directory. It opens the app up to instructors, pool halls and anyone with a table and a willingness to organize.

The developer notes that hosts can make money from running games, drawing a parallel with the way ride-share drivers earn from giving rides. That turns hosting into something closer to a small side activity than a favor to friends. It is the part of the app with the most obvious commercial angle, and it explains why the hosting limits matter.

Hosting is free once a month. Extra events cost $0.99 each, while Salotto Pro offers unlimited hosting for $4.99 monthly or $49.99 yearly. The developer's reasoning is that not everyone wants another subscription, so the pay-as-you-go option stays available alongside the Pro plan. If you host occasionally, the per-event route is the cheaper one; if you run games regularly, the monthly or annual plan is the one to weigh.

What it costs and what comes with it

Salotto is free to download and free to use for finding and joining games. It contains ads, and in-app purchases are part of the model. The purchases relate to hosting: one free hosted event per month, then $0.99 per event, or a Salotto Pro subscription for unlimited hosting.

The developer's stated aim is to keep a free platform with a pay-as-you-go format so that everyone can use it, rather than pushing all hosts toward a subscription. That is a reasonable structure for an app where the heaviest users are the ones hosting most often.

The practical question is how often you expect to host. A player who mostly joins games others have arranged may never need to pay anything. Someone running weekly events will hit the free monthly limit quickly and should compare the per-event charge against Pro. The app shows ads and offers purchases, so it is not an entirely free experience.

How it compares with other ways of finding a game

Most alternatives are informal. A league night, a message in a group chat or a regular slot at a pool hall all work, and none of them cost anything or require an app. What Salotto adds is reach: players nearby and around the world, rankings that carry across areas, and a way to arrange FargoRated matches without negotiating everything by hand.

A general events or meetup platform can host a pool night, but it will not track your ranking or handle rated matches. A league management service runs competitions but is not built around finding a game tonight. Salotto sits between those, mixing matchmaking, rankings and hosting in one place.

The trade-off is that a community app depends on other people being there. Salotto has more than 10,000 installs and a 3.6 average from 75 ratings, which suggests a modest user base rather than a crowded one. For pool, that may be enough in areas with an active scene, and the worldwide reach helps, but the experience will vary with how many players are using it where you are.

A useful tool for players who organize their own games

Salotto is worth considering if you play pool and want a more reliable way to find opponents, especially if rated matches or rankings matter to you. The combination of matchmaking, area-to-world standings, FargoRated support and host tools covers more ground than a simple listing of players would.

The hosting model is the part to think through before committing. One free event a month, then $0.99 each, or $4.99 monthly and $49.99 yearly for unlimited hosting, means regular organizers will end up paying something. Occasional hosts and players who mostly join games can stay on the free side. The app has ads and in-app purchases, so it is not without cost either way.

The 3.6 rating from 75 ratings is a modest signal, and with a user base in the low tens of thousands, how well it works for you will depend on how many pool players near you have signed up. If you have a table, run events or simply want more games than your local scene offers, Salotto is a reasonable app to try. If you are happy with the opponents you already have, it will add little.

What's new in version 3.18.0

General improvements.